Little Joey went to confession feeling heavy-hearted. “Forgive me, Father, for I’ve sinned… I was with a wild girl,” he admitted nervously. The priest recognized him and asked for more details, hoping to help, but Joey stayed silent, protecting the girl’s reputation. His loyalty was clear even in his moment of guilt.

The priest tried guessing the girl’s name—Tina, Teresa, Nina, Cathy, or Rosa—but Joey wouldn’t say a word. His silence showed how much he cared about keeping her name safe. Though the priest understood Joey’s loyalty, he reminded him that he had still sinned, and as punishment, Joey would lose altar boy duties for four months.

After the confession, Joey returned to his seat where his friend Franco asked about his “sentence.” Joey smiled and said, “Four months off… and five solid leads.” Despite the priest’s penalty, Joey saw the situation as a win — his loyalty had saved the girl, and he had a few ideas about who she might be.

This funny and sweet story reminds us that sometimes loyalty and kindness mean more than just following rules. Joey’s silent protection showed a heart full of respect and friendship, even when things weren’t easy.